Comparison

Dark Squares vs Tessel

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dark Squares

Experience chess with a magical twist. Arm your pieces with weapons and spells to outmaneuver opponents. Win by capturing the king in this strategic, fast-paced adaptation.

Highlights
  • Real chess mechanics
  • Weapon and spell loadouts
  • King capture victory condition
  • Play friends online
  • Play against AI
  • Ranked online duels
  • Unlock and upgrade weapons
Features
Read full description

This is not the chess you know. Dark Squares is chess, unhinged: every piece can wield a weapon. All the strategy of chess, none of its mercy. FREEZE the knight charging at you. TELEPORT your queen across the board. BLIGHT the enemy ranks and watch them wither. ASCEND a humble pawn into royalty. And when the path is open — take the king. HOW IT PLAYS • Real chess at the core: every classic move works, every classic plan matters. • Weapons change everything: arm a loadout of spells before each battle and cast them at the perfect moment. • Win by capture: no checkmate formalities — the game ends when a king falls. MODES • Play a Friend: challenge friends directly to friendly duels — and earn XP while you're at it. • Play vs Computer: three difficulty levels, and yes — the computer casts weapons too. • Open arena: bring your full loadout against anyone online. • Normalized arena: a fair, ranked duel — both players draft from the same weapon pool, so skill alone decides it. PROGRESSION • Earn XP in every online game — win or lose. • Unlock new weapons and upgrade them to higher tiers as you climb the ladder. • Build your Armory and craft the loadout that fits your style. DARK SQUARES PRO • An optional subscription ($4.99/month, auto-renews) that instantly adds four more weapon families — Aegis, Silence, Blight and Oracle. • Pro is variety, never raw power — free weapons stay fully competitive. Dark Squares is young and evolving — your feedback shapes what comes next. Every piece, a weapon. Every move, a gambit. Welcome to Dark Squares. Privacy Policy: https://darksquares.web.app/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Tessel

A relaxing yet strategic hex-based board game where players place uniquely shaped pieces. Compete against AI, friends locally, or players online. Utilize power tokens and unlock cosmetic customizations for a unique experience.

Highlights
  • Hex-based strategy gameplay
  • AI opponents with multiple difficulties
  • Online turn-based multiplayer
  • Local Pass and Play mode
  • Optional power tokens
  • Unlockable cosmetic themes
  • Save and resume games
Features
Read full description

TESSEL Discover TESSEL, a relaxing yet deeply strategic board game where every placement matters. Compete against challenging AI opponents, play locally with friends, or challenge players online in this elegant hex-based strategy experience. With customizable cosmetics, unique power tokens, and countless tactical possibilities, no two games are ever quite the same. STRATEGIC HEX-BASED GAMEPLAY In TESSEL, players take turns placing uniquely shaped pieces onto a hexagonal board. Every new piece must carefully balance expansion, positioning, and connection. Master the edge-placement rules, plan ahead, and outmaneuver your opponent to claim victory. The player with the fewest unused tiles at the end of the game wins. MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY * Play against AI opponents with multiple difficulty levels * Challenge friends in local Pass and Play mode * Compete online in turn-based multiplayer matches * Save games and resume them later from the Active Games hub UNIQUE POWER TOKENS Collect and activate powerful optional tokens to change the course of the game. * Free: Ignore normal placement restrictions for your next move * Bonus Turn: Take two turns in a row * Shape Shift: Add an extra tile to transform one of your pieces * Snare: Restrict your opponent’s next placement options Enable, disable, or randomize token locations in Settings to create the experience you want. CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE Unlock and personalize your collection with beautiful cosmetic themes and sound packs inspired by natural materials and elegant craftsmanship. Choose from a growing collection of styles including: * Classic TESSEL * River Stone * Sage Ceramic * Sea Glass * Kintsugi * Aurora Glass * And more Customize appearances and sounds for yourself and your Solo mode opponents. LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE New to TESSEL? An interactive tutorial and illustrated How to Play guide make it easy to learn the fundamentals while introducing advanced mechanics step by step. FEATURES * Relaxing yet deeply strategic gameplay * Multiple AI difficulty levels * Online multiplayer * Local Pass and Play multiplayer * Interactive tutorial and illustrated guide * Optional power token system * Save and resume active games * Unlockable cosmetic collections * Detailed player statistics * Beautiful visuals and soothing sounds Whether you are looking for a peaceful solo challenge or a competitive battle of strategy, TESSEL offers an elegant experience that rewards thoughtful play and long-term mastery.

Screenshots

Dark Squares4 screens
Tessel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Dark Squares at none against Tessel's shown. Dark Squares also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). Tessel's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Dark Squares sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and Tessel sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Dark Squares against 5.0 for Tessel. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dark Squares ships an update weekly, Tessel every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Dark Squares versus Tessel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDark SquaresTessel
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.5
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB44 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperAvi KremerMELANIE SHEILA CADET

Customer experience

Dark Squares

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Tessel

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dark Squares

Subscriptions1
  • Dark Squares Pro$4.991 Month
4 purchases

Tessel

One-time4
  • Kintsugi Skin$1.99
  • Aurora Glass Cosmetic Skin$1.99
  • Rose Quartz Cosmetic Skin$1.99
Show 1 more
  • Remove Ads$2.99

Questions

Is Dark Squares free?
Dark Squares is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tessel free?
Tessel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dark Squares or Tessel?
Dark Squares and Tessel are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Dark Squares or Tessel have ads?
Tessel shows ads; Dark Squares does not.
Which is updated more often, Dark Squares or Tessel?
Dark Squares ships an update weekly, and Tessel every 2 days. Most recently, Dark Squares was updated on October 31, 2026 and Tessel on October 31, 2026.

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